Ferruginous Duck

About

A small compact diving duck. Males have rich chestnut-brown head and body, white eye, and white undertail; females are duller. Found across Eurasia and Africa. Locally common on Mediterranean and Central Asian lakes; population declining. Near Threatened globally.

Physical Description

Measurement	Value	Imperial
Wingspan	36.5 cm	14.4 in
Weight	594.1666666666666 g	20.96 oz

Identification

Plumage

Rich chestnut-brown head, neck and breast; white undertail conspicuous. White eye in males (brown in females). Dark back. Bold white wing stripe in flight. Compact and rounded. Males brighter chestnut; Palearctic diving duck.

Habitat & Range

Freshwater lakes, marshes, and river deltas with dense emergent vegetation in southern Eurasia from central Europe east to Central Asia and China. Winters in the Mediterranean, South Asia, and sub-Saharan Africa.

🏖️ Coastal 🌿 Wetland

Geographic Range

Breeds in boreal and sub-Arctic Canada; winters on the Atlantic coast from New England to the Gulf States.

Diet & Feeding

Eats molluscs, crustaceans, and aquatic invertebrates; dives in coastal habitats; diet dominated by hard-shelled invertebrates.

Conservation Status

Near Threatened

IUCN Red List

Behavior & Breeding

Nesting

Incubation: 25-28 days. Fledging: 55-60 days.

Clutch Size

4-17

Sound

Song

Male emits a soft, wheeling purr; female gives a harsh, rapid quacking series. The male's quiet purring display call contrasts with the female's repeated, grating notes on Mediterranean marshes.

Taxonomy

Kingdom	Animalia
Phylum	Chordata
Class	Aves
Order	Anseriformes (Waterfowl)
Family	Anatidae (Ducks, Geese & Swans)
Genus	Aythya
Species	Aythya nyroca

Distribution

Ferruginous Duck has been recorded in 9 countries.

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Present Not recorded

countries highlighted

🇧🇪 Belgium 🇩🇰 Denmark 🇫🇷 France 🇳🇱 Netherlands 🇳🇴 Norway 🇸🇪 Sweden 🇹🇼 Taiwan 🇺🇦 Ukraine 🇬🇧 United Kingdom

External Databases

Frequently Asked Questions

What does the Ferruginous Duck eat?

Eats molluscs, crustaceans, and aquatic invertebrates; dives in coastal habitats; diet dominated by hard-shelled invertebrates.

Where does the Ferruginous Duck live?

Freshwater lakes, marshes, and river deltas with dense emergent vegetation in southern Eurasia from central Europe east to Central Asia and China. Winters in the Mediterranean, South Asia, and sub-Saharan Africa.

Is the Ferruginous Duck endangered?

The Ferruginous Duck has a conservation status of Near Threatened.

How does the Ferruginous Duck nest?

Incubation: 25-28 days. Fledging: 55-60 days.

What does the Ferruginous Duck sound like?

Male emits a soft, wheeling purr; female gives a harsh, rapid quacking series. The male's quiet purring display call contrasts with the female's repeated, grating notes on Mediterranean marshes.

How big is the Ferruginous Duck?

The Ferruginous Duck has a wingspan of 36.5 cm, weight of 594.1666666666666 g.

What order and family does the Ferruginous Duck belong to?

The Ferruginous Duck (Aythya nyroca) belongs to the order Anseriformes and the family Anatidae.